The Mandalorian & Grogu Star Admits He Had No Idea His Character Existed Before Joining Movie

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Star Wars is likely the most influential pop culture franchise ever created. Starting with the first film in 1977, it has grown into a huge entertainment empire, including movies, TV shows, video games, comics, and books. Almost everyone has encountered Star Wars in some way, but the story is so complex that few people know all the details. The universe has become incredibly vast, and even the actors involved can be surprised by lesser-known parts of the story. This recently happened with a main star of The Mandalorian & Grogu, who admitted he didn’t know about his character before taking the role.

Jeremy Allen White, who will appear in the new movie, has long admired Jon Favreau. He told Variety that Favreau’s films Swingers and Made greatly influenced him when he was starting out as an actor. They met at a party where White shared his appreciation for Favreau’s work. Favreau then called him the next day to discuss The Mandalorian. White praised the show and mentioned his acquaintance with Pedro Pascal, who enjoys working with Favreau. That’s when Favreau offered him a role. White was excited, but confused when Favreau began explaining the character – Rotta the Hutt. When the interviewer mentioned Rotta was Jabba the Hutt’s son, White confessed he hadn’t known that either.

I recorded some initial vocal work, but Jon likely refined it further. It was about a year ago,” White said, describing how the alien character was brought to life. “I did a few recording sessions, but I haven’t seen the finished product. This role was a nice change from my usual physically demanding work. I hadn’t done voice acting before – it didn’t involve any stop-motion or physical performance. I was thrilled to be part of the Star Wars universe, something I’ve always loved, and to work on a film my daughters, who are four and seven, could enjoy.

Rotta Will Have His Mainstream Debut in Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu

Most moviegoers will be meeting Rotta the Hutt for the first time when The Mandalorian and Grogu comes out. But this character actually first appeared nearly 20 years ago in the 2008 animated film Star Wars: The Clone Wars. In that story, young Rotta was kidnapped as part of a scheme to blame the Jedi and turn the Hutt Cartel against the Republic. Anakin Skywalker and his apprentice, Ahsoka Tano, were sent to rescue him and return him safely to Jabba’s Palace on Tatooine. Rotta was shown as a baby slug, and Ahsoka playfully called him “Stinky.” While The Clone Wars film and series have a dedicated following, they haven’t reached the same level of popularity as the live-action Star Wars movies, which is why many people, including those involved with the new film, weren’t aware of Rotta’s earlier appearance.

The reappearance of Rotta the Hutt in the current Star Wars timeline is significant. After Jabba the Hutt died in Return of the Jedi, a power struggle erupted in the criminal world. The Book of Boba Fett showed how Bib Fortuna initially took over, then Boba Fett challenged him. Jabba’s cousins, The Twins, also tried to seize control, but ultimately failed. Fans have long wondered where Rotta was during all of this, as Jabba’s son would be the rightful heir to his criminal empire on Tatooine. Now, with his appearance in The Mandalorian & Grogu, it seems Rotta has come of age and is ready to claim what he believes is rightfully his.

I’m so excited to see the cast growing! Along with Pedro Pascal returning as Din Djarin, we’re even getting Sigourney Weaver in the Star Wars universe! From what I understand, Rotta seems determined to take back his father’s place, which could mean trouble not just with the New Republic Rangers, but also with Boba Fett, who’s currently running things in Mos Espa. It’s really cool how Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni are tying everything together – even the lesser-known parts of Star Wars history seem to be playing a role in what happens next. It feels like everything matters!

The Mandalorian & Grogu is scheduled to be released in theaters on May 22, 2026.

Ever wondered what Rotta the Hutt has been up to since the Clone Wars ended? Share your thoughts in the comments and join the discussion on the ComicBook Forum!

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2025-11-27 17:10